The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 08, 1990
Filed:
Apr. 13, 1989
Robert J Purcell, Washington, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A suspension system for a non-powered belted vehicle includes a pair of wheel assemblies positioned on each side of the vehicle, a flexible endless belt encircling each pair of wheel assemblies, and an axle assembly extending transverse to the wheel assemblies. The wheel assemblies are connected to the axle assembly by a plurality of pivotal arms and each pair of wheel assemblies are interconnected by a fluid actuated cylinder. Belted vehicles which utilize smooth wheels to frictionally engage the belt for driving and stopping the belt, require considerable tension between the wheels and the belt. High belt tension is desirable for driving and stopping but unnecessarily high belt tension is undesirable due to overstressing of vehicle components. The subject suspension system utilizes a variable load applied to the vehicle to increase the belt tension for efficient vehicle operation.